A team of researchers from Rice University in Texas have created battery-based paint, paint which can be applied to any surface, subsequently turning that surface into energy-producing, lithium-ion batteries.

The battery-based paint was made by converting the components of normal lithium-ion batteries into a paintable liquid. The researchers demonstrated its applicability by spraying the paint onto ceramic bathroom tiles, a mug, a glass slide and a stainless steel sheet, describes the Vancouver Sun. The battery paint that was applied to the bathroom tiles provided a constant stream of power to a string of 40 LED lights, lighting them up for six hours.

The researchers describe the battery-based paint as being a "paradigm change in battery design," something that will change the way products requiring traditional batteries are designed, since the paint will not require an additional storage area for batteries.